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The world of hockey has many interesting and odd facts. In this monthly series we hope to bring you some unusual and occasionally bizarre facts. We want to capture hockey at every level, definitely not just international, so if you know of any unusual or odd facts relating to our sport, please email it to us. If you have a photo or illustration to go with it, even better. Also, this is not just a British feature. It is for the whole of the hockey world, so please give us your contributions wherever you are.

This style of feature appears regularly in many publications and websites. Because hockey was blessed with excellent magazines for both the women's and men's games throughout the 20th century we are able to pick up on statistics and news from half a century ago.

The same cannot be said of a century ago as that was WW1. However, when we do come across information from that dreadful period we will publish occasional pieces on "Hockey 100 Years Ago".

This research project was prompted by the enormous interest and publicity that has surrounded the centenary of the start of WW1. We knew that many, indeed thousands, of hockey players were involved and that many lost their lives. The stories do not just relate to serving men but also those...

Lt Charles Arthur Campbell It seems highly likely that Lt Charles Arthur Campbell was the first hockey player to make the ultimate sacrifice in WW1 as there were so few others killed, officers or soldiers, before the Battle at Mons. Lt Campbell was born in London but grew up...

Once the First World War had begun it became obvious that the Royal Navy, traditionally the pride of the British Nation for centuries, would have to play a vital role in what would become both a domestic and global conflict or perish in the attempt. Not for nothing is the...

Perhaps the first Naval hockey player to become a casualty of the Great War? Lieutenant Eric Walter Poyntz Westmacott RN was on the left wing for the Royal Navy in 1912 and in 1914 he was reported as "the best player in the Navy team". That was to be his...